Dojo Tradition: Animal Influences of the Tiger

From the tiger, we learn a two key important points.

First, the tiger teaches us to pursue our enemy relentlessly. A tiger will never retreat, or back up. In a sparring or self-defense situation, you are vulnerable while retreating, and especially if you move straight backwards. If following the way of the tiger, you will not retreat, but rather stay in close to your opponent.

The second quality of the tiger is the use of fierce, powerful blows. The tiger uses strength and surprise to overpower the enemy. The attacks from a tiger are lethal because of their power. Rather than precise, specialized strikes to the neck or throat (see the description of the leopard), the tiger uses its mawling strength with each attack to inflict damage with every blow.

It is believed that the tiger is the only animal that can defeat the dragon, master of all the animals.

Click here for the history behind the Animal Influences in our karate.

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